Travel Archives - Pen Projects

December 12, 2022December 19, 2022

Quest For the Best Southern Barbecue

In late August we packed the RV with a lot of stuff, including two cats, and hit the road. Looking for cooler temperatures, if there were any to be found. Plus we wanted to sample some of the barbecue in the Southern USA.

First stop was Gunter Hill Campground, a short stay on our quest. As a sidebar, it is an Army Corps of Engineer (ACE) facility. ACE facilities are our favorite for four reasons:

Campsites are half price to anyone with a Senior Lifetime Pass.
Reservations are easy using the mobile app.
There are no reservation fees.
The campgrounds are usually on a body of water and the sites are often waterfront.

Next, we headed north and were pleased (and lucky) to discover that Bluff Creek Campground had vacancies. This was over the Labor Day Weekend. Bluff Creek Campground lies on Walter F. George Lake which borders Alabama and Georgia. And our first southern barbecue experience.

A short scooter ride in search of fuel helped us solve both our needs. Across from the gas station was 4 Way BBQ in Lumpkin, GA.

Our First Barbecue Taste Test

The vinegary sauce was tasty. We ordered a rib platter with beans, potato salad and rolls. I had a hankering for a pulled pork sandwich with coleslaw. They had the pork but not the slaw.

The ribs had a smoky flavor. However, those folks did not follow the low and slow rule. They used the high and fast one, which resulted in us having to tear the meat off the bones. Best part of the meal was the beans. They were drenched in sauce and held chunks of pulled pork. Yum!

I suppose 4-Way BBQ could have been having a bad rib day. Or perhaps that’s the way Georgians like their barbecue ribs.

Providence Canyon State Park

While near Lumpkin we went out to explore Georgia’s Little Grand Canyon. Said to be the result of poor farming practices in the 19th century. Hard to believe those huge gullies were created initially by inexperienced farmers.

Watsadler Campground

On September 8th we arrived at Watsadler Campground in Harwell, Ga. It’s just a stones throw from South Carolina.

Our campsite was on the lake and offered some mighty nice sunrises.

In town, we found Backstreet Bar-B-Q. I was ecstatic to learn they had pulled pork and coleslaw. We got our order to go and feasted for dinner back in the RV.

The sauce was thick with a faint taste of vinegar. And the rib meat fell off the bones. I made some sourdough onion rolls for the trip. And they were a perfect compliment to Backstreet’s pulled pork and slaw.

Our third and last barbecue quest was near Pike’s Ridge Campground in Knifley, Kentucky. I’d researched barbecue in this area and discovered that Kentucky was the only state that served barbecue mutton. Alas, we did not find any barbecue mutton. Maybe on our next trip.

We did find some impressive ribs at Brothers Restaurant , located in downtown Campbellsville. We got a sampler platter that included pulled pork, ribs, chicken and brisket. The meat was dry rubbed and smoked. The accompanying sauce was thick and sweet. I will say this was my favorite. I especially enjoyed the brisket.

Scooter Travel is Not Fun in the Rain

Rain became the norm so we packed it up and headed back to Florida. Where it was not raining and the temperatures were cooler than when we left.

Until next time. Have a Safe and Happy Holiday Season.

In Memory of James Leland Rand

My Uncle Jim passed away during our RV trip after having led an extraordinary life. I will certainly miss him. And with the theme of this blog in mind I’m sure he would argue that Texas has the best barbecue. Rest in Peace Uncle Jim.

Note: This blog is sponsored by me, Karen J Adams. Any recommendations or suggestions are purely my own opinion without the exchange of money.

June 30, 2021June 30, 2021

On the Road Again

Fully vaccinated, Marty and I were ready to satisfy our social needs. He suggested a long road trip in his Porsche Boxster (his other love). I could do that. In the planning stage, the trip grew like Pinocchio’s nose. We would drive from Florida to California and back; 7000 miles. Oh my! I pondered the struggle getting in and out of those bucket seats.

Fortunately, the Porsche had a cruise control problem. The shop couldn’t fix it in time for the trip. Saved! I quietly cheered. We settled on the sensible Subaru Outback.

What About the Cats

Next we needed to find house/pet sitters. We use an online service, Housecarers.com. Contacted a retired couple that has sat for us before and set it up.

I loaded our food supply with, what a Cajun friend refers to as “Ape Food”. Because any ape could prepare it! Noodle bowls, lunchmeat, cheese, crackers and so on.

Overnights

We have family and friends spread out across the country. Marty and I adjusted our flexible schedule to meet those of others. We are thankful for our hosts in New Orleans, Austin, San Antonio, Apache Junction, Palm Springs and Seal Beach.

Priceline was our go to for other overnight stays. Using the app and searching for an Express Deal saved us money and time. Most rooms were nice. Some brought memories of the Bates Motel.

What Else

Then there were a few bucket list items to consider. Palo Duro Canyon, Texas. Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah. Arches National Park, Utah. Green River, Utah. Fish Lake, Utah. Okay, most of Utah. We also wanted to “experience” some dental work in Mexico. Marty as the test subject, of course.

The outbound journey consisted of visiting people and the dental office. Inbound would include bucket list items.

Medical Tourism

In case you’re curious, the Dental Office is located in Algodones, Mexico. Marty did his research ahead of time. Called and made an appointment. This is how it panned out:

Park at the lot on the US side in Yuma, Arizona for a nominal fee.
Walk across the border.
A driver was waiting for us
The driver delivered us to the dental office.
Marty’s assessment was made and 2 root canals performed. Ouch! (Marty said he didn’t feel a thing)
After treatment, the driver brought us back to the border.

The crowns were ready the next day. The friendly staff filled out and emailed paperwork for our insurance claim. We paid with a credit card. The price was close to half that of the US cost. I should have brushed up on my Spanish.

Success

This journey offered so much for us. We mingled with friends and family we hadn’t seen in years. It was pure joy to be out and about, talking to locals and learning the best places to go for food and fun.

PaloDuroCanyon — Palo Duro Canyon, Texas

RoosterCogburnsOstrich — Rooster Cogburn’s Ostrich Ranch – Hidden between Apache Junction and Tucson, AZ

Bryce Canyon Hoodoos — The Hoodoos of Bryce Canyon National Park

Dancing Saguaro Cacti — Just a couple of affectionate Saguaros waving at passersby in Apache Junction, AZ

Cave in Arches National Park — A cool and quiet cave in Arches National Park, UT

Me and some big Rocks in Arches National Park

After enjoying much of what Utah has to offer, we headed home. Our last 3 days on the road had few stops and a lot of driving. We were getting mighty tired of Ape Food. Well rested and home again, it’s time to plan our next adventure.

“We travel not to escape life, but for life not to escape us.” Author Unknown

Until next month, Adios.

Note: This blog is sponsored by me, Karen J Adams. Any recommendations or suggestions are purely my own opinion without the exchange of money.

December 11, 2020December 14, 2020

2020 – Itching to Hit the Road

3,801 miles, 19 Campgrounds and 53 Days in The Good Ole USA

With quarantines, face masks and political uproars we decided (on August 24^th) to take our leave and visit the Northeastern US. With that in mind, we packed the Winnebago for a long haul.

Our first destination was Marietta, OH. An itch Marty needed to scratch after reading some historic novels that were based there.

We Took Our Time

After 6 days of traveling through Georgia and North Carolina we arrived at the Starlight RV Park in Marietta, OH.

A lot of history can be found in Marietta; one of the earliest settlements in the country. Sitting along the confluence of the Ohio and Muskingum Rivers Marietta was an ideal location for receiving and transporting goods. Founded in 1788, it was hoped to become the nation’s capital. Apparently, the locomotive dissolved those plans.

And there were Shanty Boats that carried whole families along the banks. Whole communities lived on the rivers up into the 1930’s.

We spent several days to explore the area. One gem we ran across is Hocking Hills State Park which is located about 80 miles west of Marietta in a town called Logan, OH. The park offers multiple trails, waterfalls and spectacular rock formations.

Our next itch to scratch would be Acadia National Park in Maine. This would take 17 days of sight-seeing in Pennsylvania, New York and New Hampshire.

Pennsylvania

Oil City, PA was once headquarters for Pennzoil and Quaker State motor oil companies. Located along the Allegheny River in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains makes it a nice spot for exploration.

Barker, Mexico, Clayton and Plattsburgh were towns where we spent time on our way to Maine.

From our camp in Barker, NY we visited a Light House at Fort Niagara followed by a stop at Niagara Falls.

In Mexico, NY we discovered the Erie Canalway Trail and biked along 10 miles of its 360 miles (the trail runs between Buffalo and Albany).

In Clayton and Plattsburgh, NY we discovered campgrounds in the middle of farm country with corn stalks as far as the eye can see. I spoke with a farmer there who encouraged me to pick all the corn I wanted from his plot. It was delicious!

From Plattsburgh we drove our heavy RV onto a ferry that took us to Vermont. We then drove across Vermont to Shelbourne, NH. The views were magnificent and the hikes rocky. We went to the Market Basket grocery store where they sell freshly steamed lobster and other NH delicacies.

Bar Harbor Campground in Bar Harbor Maine offers first come, first serve sites. Located close to Acadia National Park, we drove to the top of Cadillac Mountain and took in the views. Guess what else we found in Maine? Lobster! Steamed in outdoor pots at local Lobster Pounds.

Heading south toward home, our next campsite was in Kingston, NH at a campground just 5 miles from a Market Basket. You know what we did. The possibilities were endless. We filled our tiny RV freezer with them.

Next we headed for Prospect Mountain Campground in Granville, MA. It was a nice, wooded site – unusual for an independent campground. It’s located close to Springfield and Wilbraham; childhood homes for Marty. We visited each and hiked on more rocky trails.

Wilbraham, MA — Marty and his family cleared this land in the late 1940’s and built the house.

Cherry Ridge Campground was our next destination in Honesdale, PA. We found a few trails and some old architecture along the Delaware River.

Delaware River House — House facing the Delaware River on the NY side.

Hesston, PA was the next stay where we found a great Army Corps Campground called Seven Points. For instance, the campground has miles of hiking and biking trails. As well as a rubberized path made from recycled materials that weaves all through the camp and around Raystown Lake. We’ll go back there.

Recycled Path — Caterpillar crossing the recycled path.

Next stop, Virginia and the Shenandoah Mountains. The weather was cold, wet and windy but the scenes were serene.

We wound our way back home staying in NC, SC and GA taking about 5 more days.

It was a great trip that soothed a few itches. Now, home in Tallahassee, we’re brewing up some new itches to scratch.

Merry Christmas to all and Happy New Year!

September 5, 2019November 12, 2019

Michigan’s Mackinac Island

To begin with, it’s pronounced “Mackinaw” for a reason that even the locals didn’t seem to know. It is just across Lake Huron from Mackinaw City (yes, same pronunciation; different spelling).

There are several restaurants and ice cream parlors. It was a great way to spend the day with some friends from our old Florida neighborhood.

August 24, 2019November 12, 2019

On the Road with Marty and Charlie

We left Tallahassee on a Sunday after much packing and planning. We both probably packed too much yet I am still missing “things”. How is it that we can live with so much and with so little and not really notice the difference. Pondering.

We have worked our way up to Michigan, stopping for a night in Acworth, GA. We use an app called AllStays, which helps us locate campgrounds. Our preference are the Army Corps of Engineer campgrounds because they are generally on the water and we get 50% off with our Senior Pass. Unfortunately, those campgrounds are generally around dams and not all states have those.

Our second stop was just north of Mammoth Cave in Kentucky; another ACE campground called Dog Creek. It was a nice spot but there was no connectivity. We kept ourselves busy visiting Mammoth Cave.

Our third stop as we make our way up to Michigan was Pokagon State Park in Indiana. Did a little bit of hiking and spent one night. Now we are in Higgins Lake State Park. We had to change sites once since weekends are busy and our first site had been reserved. Another reservation had been cancelled and we got that one. More on why WE don’t reserve sites ahead of time in a later blog.

This campground is located on the grounds where a huge CCC (Civilian Conservation Corp) project had been in the early 1900s. Now there is a Museum and Nursery that memorialize the project. The point was to reforest Michigan, who had overcut their, over logged and burned their forests leaving the land barren. Now the land is beautiful and there are many old growth trees. We took a hike through one such forest.

Charlie, the cat, has become a big flirt ever since we invited a couple of neighbors over to pet him. Now he can’t seem to get enough stranger affection.

For the coming week we plan to meet some Florida friends for a day or so and then head up to the UP (Upper Peninsula) for several days.